Cytokine Profiles in Human Immunodeficiency Virus‐Infected Children Treated With Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

• Published in: Journal of the International AIDS Society 2005-05, Vol.7 (1), p.71-71
• Main Authors: Jones, Brian M, Chiu, Susan SS, Wong, Wilfred HS, Lim, Wilina WL, Lau, Yu‐lung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Antiviral agents; Child health services; Children; Cytokines; Disease transmission; Health aspects; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV (Viruses); HIV infection in children; HIV patients; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Interferon; Interleukins; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Patient outcomes; Pediatrics; Prevention; Risk factors; Tumor necrosis factor
• ISSN: 1758-2652; 1758-2652
• DOI: 10.1186/1758-2652-7-2-71

Context There have been few longitudinal studies of cytokine production in neonatally acquired HIV‐1 infection and none in Asian or Chinese children. Objective To determine whether monitoring cytokine production could contribute to the better management of pediatric patients with HIV‐1 infection. Setting Clinical Immunology Laboratory and Pediatrics Department, University Hospital, Hong Kong. Patients Ten Asian and 2 Eurasian children infected with HIV‐1 by mother‐to‐child transmission were followed for up to 5 years while on treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Main Outcome Measures Numbers of unstimulated and mitogen‐activated cytokine‐secreting cells (IFN‐gamma, interleukin [IL]‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12, and TNF‐alpha) were measured by ELISPOT assay at frequent intervals, and correlations were sought with CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts and viral loads. Results Mitogen‐stimulated IL‐2‐secreting cells were directly associated with recovery of CD4+ cells. Correlations with viral load were found for Con A‐induced IFN‐gamma, Con A‐induced IL‐4, and unstimulated IL‐10, suggesting that these cytokines were either suppressed by high virus levels or that higher cytokine levels suppressed virus. IFN‐gamma, IL‐2‐, IL‐4‐, and IL‐12‐secreting cells induced by PHA, Con A, and/or SAC tended to increase for the first 3‐4 years of treatment but declined thereafter. Conclusion Alterations in cytokine profiles were not associated with adverse clinical events and there was little evidence to indicate that monitoring cytokine enzyme‐linked immunospots (ELISPOTs) could contribute to pediatric patient management.